Shawn Thomas Conrad, a 48-year-old former employee of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, admitted in federal court today to possessing child pornography, shattering his public image as a federal wildlife agent. The plea, entered before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters in Billings, exposes a disturbing betrayal of public trust by a man once tasked with enforcing federal laws to protect natural resources.
Conrad pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child porn, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory minimum of five years to life under federal supervised release. The admission stems from a digital investigation launched in early August 2018 by the Billings Police Department, a member of the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which quickly uncovered evidence of illegal material on agency and personal devices.
The investigation took a sharp turn when Conrad’s supervisor, acting on investigative leads, seized an agency vehicle from Conrad’s home on August 4, 2018. Conrad claimed a personal hard drive was inside and repeatedly requested its return—requests that were denied. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service then obtained a search warrant for the drive, which forensic examiners later confirmed contained graphic child pornography depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Simultaneously, Billings Police executed a search warrant at Conrad’s residence, seizing a laptop computer. That device, too, was found to contain illegal images of child sexual abuse. The dual digital troves sealed the case, linking Conrad directly to the possession of exploitative material involving children, despite his position of federal authority and responsibility.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cyndee Peterson and investigated by a coalition of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, Billings Police Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Their collaboration underscores the growing reach of digital forensic units in dismantling hidden networks of child exploitation.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 6, when Conrad will face the full weight of federal penalties. Until then, he remains released under court supervision—a temporary reprieve for a man whose career and credibility have already been obliterated by his own actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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